Civil society organisations call on Bangladesh authorities to end the crackdown on journalists

Six civil society organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International, released a statement on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, urging the Bangladesh government to stop harassing journalists and online critics and safeguard media freedom in advance of the country’s scheduled 2024 elections. 

The statement calls on the Bangladesh government to immediately suspend the use of the Digital Security Act against journalists in retaliation for their work on issues including political corruption and unethical corporate practices. Journalists in Bangladesh face continuous threats of arrest under the strict DSA, as well as physical assaults, surveillance, and intimidation by pro-government individuals.